Planter.



'M 648,579. l Patented may r. |900.

' J. w. BARTLETT.

'PLAITEIL (Application 'med mu. 2o, 11599:,

(lo lodgl.) 4 Sheets- Sheet vl` Patented May l, moi).

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P L A N T E R (Appucatin fied um. 2o; 11899.;

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NiTnD STATES PATENT Ormes?.

JOHN W. BARTLETT, OF MOLIN, ILLINOIS.

f PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,579, dated May 1, 1900.

App'iiano tied nach 2o, 1899.

serial No. V709.801. (No man.)

.To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, J oHN W. BARTLETT, a resident of Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Planters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in planters, and more particularly to a combined check-row and broadcast planter, one object of the invention being to provide a machine which can be operated to plant corn, cottonf seed, and the like in rows or to plant broadcast, or both, simultaneously.

A further object is to provide a y planter with improveddevices which will permit one or more boots of the machine to rise and fall without affecting the rest of the boots.

A further object is to so construct a checkrow planter that it can be manipulated to plant corn, cotton-seed, vegetables, or other material.

A further object is to provide improved means for adjustably connecting a followerwheel with a boot of the machine, so that the wheel can be adj usted to accommodate dierent depths of planting. y

A further object is to provide improved means for yieldingly mounting the boots of a planter.

A further object is to construct a checkrow and broadcast planter which will permit of a change of speed in droppingr the seed and plant either in hills or broadcast.

A further object is to provide a combined check-row and broadcast planter which will be simple in construction, comparatively cheap to manufacture, and most effectual when in operation.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construcviews of details, and Figs. 7 and 8 are views of a modified form of my invention.

1 represents a frame comprising four parallel longitudinal timbers 2, connected at their ends and between their ends by parallel transverse timbers 3. The frame 1 is supported on an axle 4, on which wheels 5 are mounted, and a suitable tongue 6 is secured to the forward timber of the frame.

A trough-shaped box or hopper 7 is secured on the frame 1, and said box contains a series ofseparate seed-compartments 8, as

' tending arm or lever 15, pivotally connected between its ends to a lng a on the frame l, and is adapted to be moved to operate the clutch to lock the sprocket-wheel 12 in engagement with the axle 4 to transmit motion to the feed-wheels, and hence permit the feeding of the grain. The arm or lever 15 is provided near its upper end with an opening or hole, in which the end of a horizontal rod 16 is secured. The rod 16 projects toward the center of the machine and is mounted in a suitable bracket 17, which is adapted to engage projections (not shown) on the rod 16 to secure the rod in position when the clutch is thrown in or out of engagement with-the sprocket-wheel. Any approved handhold b may be provided on the end of the rod 16 for operating same.

A series of conical tubes 18 are secured to the rear face of the central transverse timber 3 by means of fastening devices 19, passing through projections or flanges 20, one on each side of each tube 18, and each tube is provided with parallel ears 21 to more effectually guide the grain. A tube 18 is disposed beneath each feed-wheel and into said tubes the grain is adapted to be fed.

The central tube and each end tube 18 are IOO Y disposed in boots 22, and the forward end of the runner 23 of each boot 22"is pivotally connected to a down wardly-projecting arm 24 on the front'timber 3 by means ot` a pin or bolt 25, which passes through a hole in said arm 24 and an opening in said runner to permit of a certain longitudinalmovement of the rune ner. Each boot 22 ,is provided near its lower end with a Valve 27, adapted to close said end projecting outsideof said boot.

nected--toany'approved checking apparatus c, i

wherebyA to operate same when the machine-is being used as a three-row check-row planter. A toothed--boss'32 is provided on the rear portion-of` each boot 22 andis adapted to be locked with a toothed boss 33,0n the front en d of a rearwardly-projecting bracket 34, carrying any approved follower-wheel 35. The clutchsections 32 and33 are held in contact bya` screw A'36, which will permit of theadjusting ofsaid bracket 34 and wheel 35 relative to the boot-22 to regulate the `-tensionof said `boot 'and-.wheel on the ground, accordinglto the condition-of the ground'and the grain being; planted. f Therbracket34 is provided-with a suitablesc-raperd to scrape the dirt from the; wheel-35.3 -An Leshaped lever.; 37 is pivotally connectedfbetweenitsends on the rear trans lever-37 is provided with a hole for the free verseftimber 3, andthe short-arm 38 of-said passage-of a `rod 39, which is-movably connected atits lower. end to theheel ofthe boot rod .39,-between -thelower end thereofand the. endioftheshort vYarm-38 o f the lever `37, whereby to yieldinglyjhold the boot 22v in con-- tact withthe ground.; A `pin or projection 41- is providedon-theupper end of. the rod39 to prevent its escape from .the lever 37 and also-to permit-the raising of` said rod and boot when the lever ismoved ina rearward direction.y A

43`onftheframe l',V whereby to hold the levervin its desired adjustment. Each end boot 22 isi provided on its front face with an eye,44,which is connected with an arm r45'on a rock-shaftv 46 by means of a -rodor ylink 47. The `rock-.g

shaft 46 is mountedin suitable bearings onfthe timbers 2 ot'- the frame 1 and-is provided with, an. .operating-lever 48. 48 is provided with a spring-,actuated catch 49., adaptedlto engage a notched segment 50, supportedon one of thetimbers 3, as-shownf` A eoiledspring 51 is provided oneach rodor link47jto normally hold the boots'incontact .now bedescribed.

1 and the base 62.

O-the'seedbox, as shown.

The operating-lever with the groundyand said lever 4S isadapted to operate the rock-shaft 46 to raise andlower the boots and also to regulate the springtension of same on the ground. The rest of the tubes 1S are provided on their ends with my improved broadcast scatterers 52, which will Each scatterer is provided with an upwardly-projecting conical tube-53,A disposed around each tube 18 (except those Which discharge into boots 22) and secured in place by means of a pin 54, passing through Vopeningsin said tubes.`Y The lower portions of said scatterersare attenedon y their front and rear faces and beveled on their sides, as shown at 55, to form a wide mouth -for scattering the grain. A series ,ofhori` z'ontal pins or slats156` are provided in ysaid lower portioluof the, scatterers andare a'rrangedin generalform similar to the beveled side-edgesthereof tofeed uniformly throughjl secured tothebottom ofl the-box, as shown,

and projecting upwardand then bentdownward upon-itself and bearing against the petil ready to drop into the feed tubes. VA spring-pressed cut-olf- 61= Yis;secured., to `the bottom ofthefbox-above thespringfngerO Aandcomprisesga base 62, seci1red-to,.the botf tom of thefbox,. anda spring-arm 63, pivoted between Vits ends-on the base 62 and held in contact with the feed-.wheel by a coiled spring .riphery of--the feed-Wheel'to holdthegrain securely in, thepockets of; the feed-wheel un@` IOO 64,disposed betwee'nvon'elend of thearm feedfwhr-zel..` Y

Vlr-hen planting cottonseed,I employfa 22. Y A' coiled spring ;40. isprovided on said f A guide-plate 65 is disposed 1 i above the cutoff to, guide the seedonto [the 'IIO feed-wheel having ingers thereon, as shown f in Figs. 2 and 5.

In this form of my inven-g tionIprovide-a cut-.01h66.- VThe-cut-ol 66 comprises two arms'for members 67, vpivoted provided `at-.one fend with a lugvGS, adapted to'y retain a coiled-spring69 in yplace to pressthe inner ends of the arms or memberstoward each other. Aiguide-rameFOvis v disposed overthe cut-olf -66 and is providedwith ,up-

wardlyfprojectingarms 7l toreceve the, iin- Y gers ofthe feed-wheelbetween them, and Aa suitable slotted plate 72is disposed atth e.

other endof the slotted bottom ot' the `feedbox to prevent theescapeof cottonfseed.: A

slotted sheet of rubber orfothermaterial 73 may be disposed beneath the plate 72 to-more f eiectually 'close Vthe slotted passage` for the;`

ngers ofv theifeed-wheel.

I would have it understood vthat instead of` employing ,the broadcast scatterersA 54, as q Vabove described, I might employ bootsfor.

each-tube siinilglr'to-the boots 22 and may prO- vide scatterers 54 on all of the t'ubes 18. However, my improved device will usually be constructed as above described, as the feed-boxes Vfor each tube are separate from each other,

and hence certain tubes may be permitted to feed, while the boxes for the others may be kept empty.` This is the case when my device is being used as a three-row check-row planter.

The operation of my improved check-row planter is as follows: Motion is transmitted from the axle 4 to the shaft lO by the sprocket- Wheels 11 and 12 and chain 13 to operate the feed-Wheels 9 to drop a predetermined number of grains into thetubes 18 and boots 22. The grain will be held in the boots by the valves 27 until the button on the check-line strikes the forked arm of the checking apparatus c, Which will operate the flexible shaft 29 and links or rods 3l thereo'n to open the valves 27 and deposit the grain in the ground, when the .valves will be closed to catch the sa me numof seeds or grains before again being-reopened. The number of grains fed can be regulated by the difference in sizeof the sprocket-wheels 11 and 12, according to the grain being planted.

The broadcast tubes are fed by the feed- Wheels 9 and the grain is scattered as heretofore described.

Instead of constructing the seed-dropping mechanism as above described I might construct same as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In this form of my invention a shaft 57 is revolubly mounted on the frame l and is connected with the checking apparatus, as hereinbefore described. The shaft 57 is provided over each boot with a depending arm 58, and said arm 58 is connected with an arm 59, pivoted to the front timber 3 of the frame by a rod 60a. An L-shaped lever 6la is pivotally connected to each boot, and the upright arm 62a of said lever 6l is connected to the arm 59 by a rod 63a and the outer arm 64 of the lever 6la is connected to the valve in the boot by a rod 65, as shown. It will be seen from the above description that the boots can be moved up and down without affecting the valve-operating mechanism in the slightest.

Various slight changes might be resorted to in the general form and arrangement of the several parts described -without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myselfat liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a planter, the combination with a frame, of a seed or grain receptacle on said frame, boots below said seed or grain receptacle, means for dropping seed or grain into said boots, Valves in the boots for detaining the seed or grain therein, a flexible shaft mounted directly on the boots, means for operating said shaft and connecting devices between said valves in the boots and the flexible shaft to operate saidvalves to deposit the seed or grain.

2. In a planter, the combination with a frame, of a seed or grain box mounted on said frame, a 'shaft below the bottom of said seed or grain box, feed-wheels on said shaft, tubes below said feed-wheels and adapted to receive grain therefrom, and scatterers on the ends of said tubes having a attened enlarged portion at its end and pins or slat-s in said iiattened portion for scattering the seed or grain over the ground.

3. In a planter, the combination with a frame, of a seed or grain box. disposed on said frame and partitioned off into several independent compartments, each compartment provided with a concave-convex bottom slotted centrally, a feed-Wheel for each compartment disposed under the slot in said bottom, a tube for each feed-wheel, each tube adapted to receive grain independently from a single compartment and means in said tubes for regulating the feed of t-he seed or grain.

4:. In a planter, the combination with a frame, of a seed or grain box disposed on said frame, a series of partitions in said box forming several compartments or receptacles, a concavo-convex slotted bottom for each receptacle, a feed-wheel for each receptacle coincident With the slot in the bottom, separate tubes for each feed-wheel, a boot for each tube, and a spring-actuated rod for each boot adapted to yieldingly hold said boots in contact with the ground.

5. In a planter, the combination with a frame, of a seed or grain box on said frame, partitions in said box forming several receptacles, a concavo-convex bottom in each receptacle, a separate feed-Wheel for each receptacle, a boot into which each feed-wheel empties, a clutch-section on each boot, a bracket, a clutch-section on said bracket to engage said first-mentioned clutch-section, a followerwheel mounted in said bracket, and a scraper on said bracket for the wheel.

6. In a planter,the combination with a seed or grain box, of a series of feed-tubes communicating with said seed or grain box, boots disposed around the lower end of said tubes, valves in said boots, a flexible shaft mounted in bearings on said boots, and means connect' ing the shaft and each valve to operate all of said valves simultaneously to drop the seed or grain. i

7. In a planter, the combination with three feeding-tubes spaced apart and a boot inclosing each of said tubes and adapted to receive grain therefrom, of a valve in each boot, a flexible shaft mounted in bearings on said boots, arms on said shaft, links or rods connecting said arms and valves, and means connected with said flexible shaft for operating it.

IOO

IIO

8; In a planter, the combination {with/7.a

frame, -a seedbox and a feed-wheel therefor,- of a tube into which the feed-wheel discharges, flanges or lugs on said tube tosecure same to the frame, and approximately-parallel outwardly-projecting ears-on said tube tog'uide the seed or wheel., i p 9; ln a planter, the combination with a frame and aseedbox having a series of` receptacles, of feed devices for each receptacle, a series of vertically-movable boots communicatingwith said feed devices, an operatinglever,` connections between said operating-legraindischarged from the feedver andthe end boots ot' the series, locking means for said lever and anotheroperatingleverindependently connected with the intermediate boot of theseries,.locking means for saidflast-mentioned lever, and yielding d e-i vices for said boots 10; In-a'planter; the combination of a seedi box having a concavo-convex slotted bottom, a feed-wheel coincident with the slot in said bottom, and a seed-guide secured insaid bottom and consisting of spring metal bent upon itself and. forming a spring-finger substantially concentric with the feed-wheeh 11. In a planter, the combination of a feedbox having a concavo-conveX-slotted bottom,

avertical feed-wheel coincident with the slot Y in the bottom,fa spring-finger secured in the .the seedboxy at respective sides lof the slot seedbox `and :disposed substantially concentric -Witli the feed-wheel `and fa guide-plate constructed and arranged to ldirect 4grain into the feed-wheel above'the free end of` said spring-finger.

l12. The combination of a seedboX having a concavo-convex slotted bottom,a feedwheel mounted under andconcentric to lthe slotted bottom, a spring-pressed cut-oft device adapted to engage said feed-wheel, a spring guidefinger below the cut-o and concentric with the' feed-wheel and a guide-plate adapted to direct lthe grain to the feed-wheel in advance of the cut-off. p n

j' 13. The combination of a seed-hopper having a slotted bottom, a feed-Wheel under said' bottom and having iin gers projectingthrough the siot therein and a cut-od consisting of ytwo jaws' pivoted independently to the bottom of therein, lugs projecting rearwardly from said pivotal vconnections and a spring disposed between the lugs of the respective jaws.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.V

Y JOHN w. BARTLET'T'.-

Witnesses:

GUY R. FRAZELLE, E. H. HEIGHT. 

